COMMENTARY
City Center II finances need realism
The people of East Lansing need to face the truth. City Center II was a huge financial mistake by ambitious officials that has cost us millions.
COMMENTARY
Protest right move, must lead to action
The activist spirit is alive and well on the MSU campus, but in the case of MSU Greenpeace, it unfortunately has yet to result in any real change.
COMMENTARY
Support organic, healthy food
One step forward, two steps back seems to be the motto taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives when it comes to agricultural funding.
COMMENTARY
Iraq troop drawdown not end of problems
Every generation has a war that defines them; our generation has the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, just like our parents had the Vietnam War, just like their parents had WWII. Today, our generation can share in the relief that our fathers and grandfathers felt because our war is over.
COMMENTARY
Do research before buying pink
Every year, department stores, pharmacies and even college campuses turn ‘pink’ with companies large and small slapping a ribbon on their products and feigning some interest in breast cancer awareness to woo compassionate consumers. We are encouraged to buy this or that, to wear this ribbon or this pink whatever in order to “support a cure.” As someone who has seen devastating effects of breast cancer firsthand, it has all gotten to be too much.
COMMENTARY
Business, politics often intersect
I always have found the intersection between business and politics fascinating. Most people don’t. Most people think of this link as an unhealthy combination of greed and political self-interest. They assume nothing meaningful can be learned from examining such a relationship.
COMMENTARY
Take stand against housing bias
As a student at MSU — one who is looking into housing off-campus next year — I would strongly encourage and support the East Lansing City Council’s resolution opposing action be taken by state legislators to deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered couples from renting property within East Lansing.
COMMENTARY
Project’s impact needs further evaluation
When doing a project, you want it done correctly rather than quickly. The East Lansing City Council, though, appears to be in a rush to grab some federal funding for development on East Grand River Avenue. Last week, the East Lansing City Council voted 4-1 to apply for a federal matching grant to assist in the revamping of the section of Grand River Avenue between Collingwood Drive and Hagadorn Road.
COMMENTARY
Note sharing not matter of ethics
I am writing in lieu of the most recent attempt to place our professors on an even higher pedestal than they belong while at the same time demeaning the student population at-large.
COMMENTARY
Enjoy homecoming with respect, pride
Yes, Homecoming is a time for students to be entertained. Homecoming weekend, though, is more than simply a massive amount of parties, college football and a parade down Grand River Avenue. For a weekend, Spartans young and old embrace the Spartan spirit.
COMMENTARY
Stop hate against Arab-Americans
It pains me knowing they are talking about my former classmates, high school teachers and best friends. How could my soft-spoken Arabic friends be connected to wars, bombings and terrorist threats? I see the looks on people’s faces when I mention my friends Omar, Yousif and Amir. I can tell what they’re thinking. To put it lightly, it’s unjust.
COMMENTARY
Winning not goal in real justice
Have you ever wondered if what you watch on television or in movies has any semblance of reality? We are deluged with every form of reality TV, but do you ever contemplate if Kim Kardashian or “Big Brother” or “Survivor” has any place outside of the fantasy realm?
COMMENTARY
Students unfairly rushed to sign leases
No student can predict the future. However, by pressuring them to sign leases as early as a year in advance, property management companies are asking students to do just that. Being pressured to sign a lease to live off-campus in October for the following fall is too early for students’ ever-changing plans.
COMMENTARY
Legislation goes against rights
State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, recently introduced legislation that would void East Lansing’s ordinance by prohibiting any Michigan community from adopting an ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on categories not included in state law. This is an issue that every resident of East Lansing and every MSU student should be concerned and outraged about.
COMMENTARY
Dantonio must discipline player
As a 2003 MSU alumnus, I am of course thrilled the Spartans soundly defeated the Wolverines on Saturday.
COMMENTARY
Professor’s work not pornography
The State News recently published a story about a retiring photography professor, Professor Danny Guthrie and his latest project photographing himself with his current and former students as well as his colleagues. Guthrie specifically comments on these photos, “(The photographs are) about my loss of youth and impending doom,” he said. “Once you give up when you get older, you don’t live in a sexual arena anymore.” This quote, however, did not protect him from attacks from faculty as well as students — specifically Mitch Goldsmith, who wrote a scathing column painting Guthrie as a sick older professor exploiting his students — somehow intimidating or forcing his female students to pose with him.
COMMENTARY
Discriminatory bills need to be stopped
When confronted recently with issues of racial discrimination, MSU students and officials agreed to work together to make campus a comfortable environment for all. State Representatives must have missed that lesson because a series of bills that appear to encourage discrimination now are making their way through the legislative process.
COMMENTARY
Be respectful about U-M rivalry
Although I understand the rivalry between MSU and U-M is strong (believe me — I was in the student section yelling just as hard as the next person on Saturday), I really don’t understand why the “trash talking” always has to become offensive.
COMMENTARY
Ethics, value of note-sharing questionable
Students recently have discovered a new way to skip out on classes while still obtaining notes. But this method comes with a price. Notehall and GradeGuru, websites used for sharing study guides and notes by students for students, are negatively impacting the way some students learn.